Last week I relocated from New York to Tennessee, which is a pretty major move – though, if you ask me, my decision to “cut the cord” when we arrived is just as dramatic.

So far I don’t miss cable TV too much; if anything, our family’s viewing habits have improved. The other day I showed my daughter a few minutes of Faerie Tale Theatre, which I loved as a kid and can marathon on Hulu from start to finish.

Created and hosted by Shelley Duvall, Faerie Tale Theatre aired from 1982-87, after adults had been introduced to the actress in acclaimed films like The Shining, Nashville and Annie Hall. In each hour-long episode, an astoundingly talented cast reenacts a classic tale, from Sleeping Beauty to Rumpelstiltskin to Little Red Riding Hood.

Back then I think what appealed to me most was the concept; it was captivating to see imaginative worlds—particularly those I knew from books—rendered in live action.

Re-watching the episodes as an adult, I’m blown away by all of the award-winning folks who participated: Susan Sarandon, Robin Williams, Jeff Bridges, Angelica Huston, Christopher Reeve, Billy Crystal, Helen Mirren, Jeff Goldblum, James Earl Jones, Leonard Nimoy, Vincent Price, Liza Minnelli and Mick Jagger are just a fraction of the names. Oh, and did we mention that Pee-Wee Herman is one, too?!?

And unlike much of today’s kids’ fare that only features A-list names, there are deeper, smarter layers here. Episodes are directed by some of the all-time greats, like Francis Ford Coppola, Tim Burton and Roger Vadim. Duvall also recruited cult figures like Frank Zappa, Bud Cort, and David Hemmings to take part.

Artists Gustav Klimt, Norman Rockwell, Maxfield Parrish and others inspire the look of each set piece. And while these details may not have directly resonated with me in the early ‘80s, I do wonder if they planted themselves somewhere in the back of my 6-year-old brain, because I certainly admire all of these names today.

Each episode of Faerie Tale Theatre is self-contained, so you can start anywhere, but personal faves include Pinocchio (Reubens plays the title character — see clip above), Goldilocks and the Three Bears (with Tatum O’Neal as Goldilocks) and The Frog Prince, in which Robin Williams plays the talking frog to Teri Garr’s stuck-up princess (see below).

The action moves at a slower pace than most modern-day kids are accustomed to, but I think the show holds up enough so viewers around 4 and up will appreciate it –and so will their nostalgic parents.

If you like Faerie Tale Theatre, try streaming…

Tall Tales & Legends (Hulu). Also created by Shelley Duvall, this show lasted nine episodes and retold stories of Johnny Appleseed, Annie Oakley and other figures. The format is similar to Faerie Tale Theatre, and guest stars include Jamie Lee Curtis, Danny Glover, Martin Short, and Molly Ringwald. [Stream Tall Tales on Hulu]Grownup trivia: Peter Billingsley, the director and producer best known for playing Ralphie in A Christmas Story, pops up in the “Pecos Bill” episode alongside Steve Guttenberg, Rebecca De Mornay and Martin Mull.

Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child. Narrated by Robert Guillaume, this ‘90s series is similar to Faerie Tale Theatre in that it retells tales and features beloved celebrities. The difference: This one is animated. [Watch Happily Ever After on HBO Go]Grownup trivia: Each episode features a star-studded, multi-cultural cast that includes Denzel Washington, Whoopi Goldberg, Jimmy Smits, Harry Belafonte, Rosie Perez and others.

Mrs. P (YouTube and MrsP.com). Hosted and co-created by actress Kathy Kinney (The Drew Carrey Show), each episode of this web series features “Mrs. P” reading a different children’s story. The books include classics and award winners, and supplemental material (activity sheets, teacher info, etc.) can be found on the official site. [Watch Mrs. P on YouTube]Grownup trivia: Mrs. P has a true Drew connection, as co-creator Clay Graham is the former head writer and executive producer of The Drew Carey Show.

Whitney Matheson (@whitneymatheson) is a pop-culture writer and mother. She’ll serve as the 2015 Journalist in Residence at Middle Tennessee State University.